Data: KFF; Map: Alex Fitzpatrick/Axios
The nationwide push to ban cellphones in K-12 classrooms has made its way to the Dallas area.
Why it matters: Phones are a key way for parents to stay in touch with their kids. But some students concede that their phone can be disruptive during class, and cyberbullying remains a persistent issue.
- Multiple studies have linked cellphone use among kids to stress, anxiety and depression .
Driving the news: Texas education commissioner Mike Morath has urged lawmakers to bar cellphones from public schools.
- “If it were in my power, I would have already banned them in all schools in the state. So I would encourage you to consider that as a matter of public policy,” Morath told state senators at a hearing last month.
The big picture: Eight states have statewide bans or restrictions on cellphones in schools.
- The Texas Legislature could pursue a ban next year, if enough lawmakers agree on the issue.
Zoom in: Dallas ISD doesn’t have a districtwide restriction on cellphone use and instead lets principals decide how to govern cellphone use, a DISD spokesperson tells Axios. A few schools are piloting secure pouches that students can put their phones in until dismissal.